Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Bookshops and Bonedust to read and review.

I absolutely loved the coziness of Legends and Lattes when I read it and was thrilled to hear we were getting more of Viv's backstory.

In this book we see Viv during her merc days. She is recovering from injuries she received when a mission did not go quite as planned in the town of Murk when she meets Fern.

I felt this story took a little longer to get going than Legends and Lattes but it is still an extremely enjoyable read and I thoroughly enjoy Travis' writing.

Some books should just stay standalones.

I enjoyed Legends & Lattes for what it was when I read it last year. A lot of the charm, for me, was getting to join Viv in all the steps she takes to start her coffee shop. And I guess this book tries to bring back that magic, but it never quite manages it. The situation is different, the characters are different, and the page count is, too, and I really felt that. If this had been about the same length as Legends & Lattes, I might've got on with it better. Unfortunately, I was just bored through most of it.

The bittersweet ending does redeem it a bit, and it had a few relationship and character moments that I really loved, but all in all, unless you absolutely adored Legends & Lattes, I think you can easily skip this one.

Easiest 5 stars I've given to a book in a long time.
It gave me all the cosy feels and reading this while tucked under a blanket, hot drink in hand and a scented candle burning made it feel even cosier.
I hope more books are written in this little world because the characters are so easy to fall in love with, the settings are dreamy and you really get sucked in to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan MacMillan and Travis Baldree for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Travis Baldree’s enchanting prequel, “Bookshops & Bonedust,” the world of Legends & Lattes comes alive with the young orc Viv at the center of a heartwarming tale. Recovering from a mission gone awry, Viv finds herself in the tranquil town of Murk, far from the battlefield she longs for. Unexpectedly, she befriends Fern, the owner of a struggling bookshop, and delves into a world of second-hand books and epic adventures. As the story unfolds, friendships deepen, romance blossoms, and the quaint town reveals a darker underbelly threatened by a necromancer. The narrative beautifully explores themes of first love, the power of good bookshops, and the unforeseen choices that shape our destinies.

Baldree masterfully weaves together a narrative that blends charm, humor, and fantasy elements, creating a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of Legends & Lattes. Viv’s journey from a restless warrior to someone who discovers the joy of reading and the significance of found family is heartening. The book’s stakes rise as dark forces loom over Murk, adding an exciting layer of mystery and action. “Bookshops & Bonedust” is a delightful read that not only expands the Legends & Lattes universe but also stands on its own as a testament to the magic found in books, friendship, and the unexpected twists of life.

After loving Travis Baldree’s Legends and Lattes, I was excited to pick up his follow up book. Although technically a standalone novel that you could read as such, I do think it works as a companion prequel to Legends and Lattes.

Bookshops and Bonedust takes us back in time where we find Viv during her mercenary career, however, it’s not exactly going as planned. When she’s seriously injured on a hunt, she’s delivered into the care of a sleepy beachside town called Murk to recover. But Viv manages to find adventure wherever she goes and picks up a few new friends along the way, but will she ever get back to the hunt?

I must admit, I did find this to be a much slower start than I expected, however, once I became engaged, I was fully back in Viv’s world. Travis Baldree writes with such charm and creates such wonderful places that you can’t help but want to visit.

For some people, the story might lack a little in the adventure stakes, choosing instead to slowly build towards the exciting climax. For me personally, I found the book excerpts a little tiresome because I didn’t find them all necessary to the plot, and they felt a little bit like filler. I wanted more about the Bookshop business rather than the actually reading. However, if you’re looking for something purely escapist to dive into on a cold winter night, look no further.

Baldree has this knack of writing really engaging characters that you can’t help but root for; you just fall into their lives so easily. I found myself feeling so sad that I had to let them go, and wish I could check in on them to see what they’re getting up to!

I didn’t love it as much as Legends and Lattes, but it’s still a must read for fans of cosy fantasy.

Charming and cosy read for a rainy day. I thought the first book was great. It really was something new for me and I would not be put off buying future releases.

A prequel to Legends and Lattes we are reacquainted with Viv as a young orc injured during one of her first missions with Rackam’s Ravens and forced to spend several weeks recovering in a small seaside town.. Here she makes friends with Fern and the wonderful Potroast in a rundown bookshop and meets the talented baker Maylee. However not is all as it seems and dark forces are gathering. A novel of bookshops and reading, friendship and first love and the choices that we make. A cosy fantasy that I couldn’t put down and hope for many more from this author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

A book that talks about books. I think I wouldn’t describe it any other way.

Of course we all know Viv from Legends & Lattes, there isn't much else to say about her. If you liked the first book, you will like this prequel.

The book is charming, wholesome and it feels ‘cosy’. Exactly like Legends & Lattes. With Bookshops & Bonedust you will laugh, giggle and enjoy every page of it.

That being said, I was expecting some more ‘action’ since I read it was what happened to Viv before opening Legends & Lattes. Needless to say, I’m glad I was wrong as I think I did enjoy more this warm relaxed story than a full packed action one.

I gave this book 4 stars because it’s a book I’d recommend to anyone that has read Legends & Lattes, but I think it doesn’t live to the quality of that first book. Maybe because the first one strikes harder, and it’s more difficult to achieve that in the second one. I think there are too many factors that could impact that, and I’m not sure many of them are actually the book’s ‘fault’. Still, it’s a story I’d re-read, recommend and definitely will buy the physical copy of it.

Thank you for the eARC in exchange of honest feedback.

Thankyou to Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc. A fun, cosy book exploring Viv's past and I loved every minute of it

"Every book is a little mirror, and sometimes you look into it and see someone else looking back."

We are so back. I adored Legends and Lattes and while this prequel isn't quite as cosy, it is a spectacular expansion of the world Baldree created with his debut. Prequels are tricky to pull off, especially when there is a certain amount of threat to the main character, as there is in Bookshops and Bonedust. But instead of worrying about Viv's life, we get to see how she grows and develops into the Orc we meet in Legends and Lattes.

Much of what made L&L work is still present: excellent characteers, smart dialogue, and a huge heart. But the stakes are higher in this book - a necromancer threatens the town of Murk, and Viv has to protect her new, found family.

A younger Viv, thirsty for adventure, is badly wounded and left to recover in the sleepy town of Murk. She is bored out of her tree - but then she falls in with Fern, who is running her dad's bookshop into the ground. Viv and Fern strike up an unlikely friendship, and Viv learns about the joy of reading - thanks, in part, to Fern's skill at recommending the best reads, and also because of the wonders of smutty novels.

Viv also finds romance in Murk, in the form of the frankly adorable Maylee, local baker and former fighter. She feels like the Viv we meet in Legends and Lattes and it's easy to see the throughline between the cosy life Maylee builds for herself in Murk and what Viv goes on to do once she hangs up her sword. I loved this - she's not only a lover, but also an inspiration, for our main character, and shows her that there's more to life than fighting.

I would be remiss not to mention how fantastic the audio version of this novel is; Baldree made his name narrating fantasy audiobooks, and he puts such love and care into reading Bookshops and Bonedust - the characters of wildly and enjoyably different accents, and the warmth in his voice reflects the warmth at the heart of this lovely novel.

"Every book is a little mirror, and sometimes you look into it and see someone else looking back."

In this prequel to 'Legends and Lattes', our favourite orc, Viv, is still a fledgeling and young mercenary. After a severe error in judgment that lands her with a serious injury, her company leader dumps her in a sleepy coastal town called Murk to recuperate while they go off hunting a powerful necromancer.

Viv is not impressed by Murk. She wants fights and adventure, something Murk seriously lacks. But then, she wanders into a dilapidated bookstore and meets its proprietor, a ratkin named Fern. Fern has a knack for recommending the right book to the right person at the right time. Viv isn't much of a reader but begrudgingly buys a book. And doesn't want to stop reading. Viv's desire to leave Murk is also complicated by the lovely owner of the superb bakery down the road from the bookstore.

But while Viv is recovering and learning to appreciate Murk and its residents, a darkness is growing in the town. Viv sees a creature that just seems wrong and begins to worry that the necromancer isn't far behind. Can she protect the town and everyone she's grown to love?

I think I loved 'Bookshops & Bonedust' even more than 'Legends and Lattes', which was a solid four-star read for me. Maybe it's because this book has a little more action and mystery to it. I'm not sure. But I adored all the side characters, who ended up feeling like friends. A book about the meaning of life, love, and found family. If you're looking for cosy fantasy these two books are a must-read. I really hope we get more books set in this world featuring Viv.

This is the prequel to the acclaimed Legends & Lattes. I am glad that I read Bookshops & Bonedust as my introduction to Viv.

I feel like I got the full experience of her character development without any of the spoilers of where her story took her in the next book.

Viv is such a loveable character and all of the folks she meets along the way really stole my heart.

It was quite a sad ending to the story knowing that she moves on from these friendships to pastures new.

I am hoping for a third book that will draw together characters from her old life into the new.

This is an absolutely delightful story. I loved meeting the younger Viv and seeing a pivotal time in her life. I'm hoping we see more of Fern, Viv and their friends in the future as this series is far too good not to continue for a few more books at least. The story-telling in this is amazing, I felt as though I was part of the citizenship of Murk, buying books in Thistleburr, visiting Mylee's bakery and drinking in The Pitch.


There are so many facets to the story including friendship. impending peril, community and romantic love - and oh how my heart ached for Mylee and Viv's limited time with one another. The books if filled with great characters, including a magical skeleton and a cross between a chicken and a dog. They formed a community I wanted to be part of and loved spending time with. In fact, I am just about to dig out Legends & Lattes, the first book in the series, to do a re-read.

A bit slow but a fun read for anyone who enjoyed the first book. The characters and plot were charming but there were some spacing issues with the action crammed in at the end.

what an INCREDIBLE sequel eeee, i’ve been so so excited to read this since i’ve been recommending legends & lattes to absolutely everyone. Travis did not let us down, and it was so refreshing to meet some new and diverse characters too, i ADORE THEM ALL so much

I fell in love with Legends and Lattes and Bookshops and Bonedust confirmed by love for this series. It's cute, cosy but it's also a compelling and well plotted fantasy set in a fascinating world.
There's humour, action, changes, quirky characters. There's a lot of fun and smile.
Loved it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

🕯️ Legends and Lattes is synonymous with cozy fantasy, to me it’s certainly not low stakes. Bookshops and Bonedust is very much the same. I loved this little journey back into Viv’s past, it’s certainly a different vibe and taste than L&L. There’s more a sense of adventure and longing, which is different for each character. Baldree did such an amazing job making Viv so young. Her younger character is just as well rounded as her older one in L&L.

Stuck in a desolate sea side town, Viv is forced to slow down and recognise the limitations of her body. As she explores the village, and dare I say it makes friends, she starts to discover a different side to herself, and to others around her. And despite the sleepiness of the town, adventure may find her anyways.

As with L&L, my favourite character is a Ratkin. Fern is a lovely look into the struggles and adventures that are so different to Viv. This book was such a fun read, and a great little look into the time before L&L.

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Publication date: 9 November 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
~~~~~
Set twenty years before the events of Legends & Lattes, Viv is packed off against her will to recuperate from a severe wound in the sleepy beach town of Murk – so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.
~~~~~
Oh I enjoyed this one a lot! 🥰 Just like Legends & Lattes, it is cosy, comfortingly low stakes and full of found family goodness. The supporting characters are wonderful (Fern! Satchel! ❤️), there is mouth-watering baking, the love of a good book and it is altogether delightful, and an all-round lovely time.
However, the difference is that this story is a little bittersweet - as this is a prequel to Legends & Lattes, Viv is at a very different stage of her life, itching for adventures and fights and definitely not ready to hang up her sword and settle down. Yes, it is all very predictable but I can't be mad at this because in the context of a cosy read, it is reassuring and comforting and a lovely little bit of escapism.
~~~~~

I noticed that T. Kingfisher described this as ‘a warm hug of a book’. And she’s absolutely right. Viv is a thoroughly likeable character, who is recovering from a nasty leg injury. And as her mercenary outfit, Rackam’s Ravens, is hard on the trail of a notorious necromancer – they have to leave her behind at the nearest small town to be treated and recover. Unlike so many fantasy tales, there doesn’t appear to be a magical potion, or superb physician who can immediately heal her. So she’s stranded in a small outpost of civilisation, initially very bored and fed up.

I love how Viv gradually gets to befriend a couple of characters, notably Fern, who runs a decrepit bookshop and Maylee, the local baker. As her relationship with both these characters deepens, we get to see a non-reader gradually get hooked on books. This is a joy – Baldree has the gift of imbuing everyday events with an extra jolt of positivity and excitement that meant I didn’t want to put this one down. Would Viv move on in the end and rejoin Rackem’s Ravens? Or would she stay in Murk and settle into the community? As I hadn’t read Legends & Lattes, I didn’t know the outcome – and I was frankly rooting for her to decide to stay in Murk.

There is also an adventure as a villain turns up. And I was genuinely worried for the inhabitants of this small settlement as most of them are not fighters. And most of all, I was concerned that something bad would happen that would blow away the cosy, friendly feel of this charming story. But while there was still tension and danger, Baldree managed to keep both vibes going – which is harder to do than he makes it look. Highly recommended for fantasy fans, who’d like a bit of a break from all the grimmer stuff out there. While I obtained an arc of Bookshops & Bonedust from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.

So what we wanted from another Travis Baldree book featuring his interesting orc heroine, Viv, was really more of the same but with variations, right? And so we have our hot-headed Viv, at the start of her career, off on a hunt for a villain but making a mistake and getting wounded, and forced to rest and heal in a seaside town, Murk, which is also a frontier town in some peril. And we have magical, mythical creatures; human relationships; a rattkin; a cute pet; some peril; a bit of mild romance - all there.

Viv has to contend with both her reputation from when she's brought in and the rather scary woman who keeps the peace in this frontier town and doesn't want her practising her swordplay to regain her strength. But she meets two excellent people, Fern, who is running the bookshop of the title, and who gives Viv a chance to exercise her problem-solving skills, and Maylee, baker extraordinaire, and is she flirting with Viv? We also get to meet Gallina and find out how she fitted into the band that Viv was leaving at the start of Legends. Oh, and there's the other orc, Pitts, handing for delivering stuff but also handy with a haiku, again doing that subtle undermining of fantasy stereotypes that is a lovely feature of Baldree's work. I loved the details, again, this time of getting the bookshop sorted out and more profitable; once again we see exactly how it's done, and Viv's recovery is also believable.

Although this is a standalone, we do return to Viv's "Legends and Lattes" life in the Epilogue, so I think they're probably best still read in this order.